The Winter 2024/25 Transfer Thread

This is such a difficult balance and I don't see an obvious answer.

If we spend big that comes with big wages and absolutely no guarantee of survival - if it works great, but if it doesn't we're right back to square 1, selling players and scrambling to rebuild in the Champ.

If we stick with what we've got do we have any chance of staying up?

I'll keep banging the drum for consistency and team spirit - we need to maintain a core of Farke veterans who know what's expected, just add 4 or 5 experienced EPL heads and then get the stadium built as a priority.

I'm with you on the consistency and team spirit all the way, but I also want us to be an established Premiership team. Maybe you are right, if we get 4/5 experienced premiership style players in key positions it could work, of course the other conundrum is whether Farke himself can cut it in the Premiership!.

Depends what you mean by premiership class, we aren't aiming to emulate Liverpool or Man City - more Bournemouth, Brighton or Brentford. For that calibre of players, then Bamford, Firpo, Meslier, Struijk, Aaronson and Gnonto have already played in the premiership. We don't know about Bogle, Tanake or Ramazani yet but I'd expect them to be good enough. As Soopa said, it's about adding those five or so players that will make the difference. For me, the priorities are in this order: (1) a really good CM (and not Rothwell who we could still offer a loan extension), (2) AM (a really key position because of Farke's gameplay), (3) GK, (4) CF, (5) securing Solomon's signature and (6) an LB (assuming Firpo leaves). If fwe can do that for c. £80m, happy days.

Certainly an ambitious call re Nunez, though costing £45m plus big wages wouldn't leave much change. There's been a lot of buzz around Tammy Abraham this week. He'd probably cost £17-20m but wouldn't be on quite as high a wage. At 27, he should be at the peak of his powers. Still think Cameron Archer is the most likely forward addition.

I think we can do better than Buendia, he hasn't cut it at Bayer Leverkusen and is now back languishing in the Astonvilla reserves. Eduard Spertsyan looks a more attractive proposition and would cost a similar transfer fee, c. £15m. If Gnonto continues to play as wonderfully as he did last week, we might end up very strong in that position.

I think we need to move on from Wober as spare CB, I'd try a sneaky £5m bid for Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley, and see if Spurs bite.

Kellerher does seem to be linked a lot to us, however Aaran Ramsdale will be available when Southampton go down. I'd think £13m could get him, I like that even more.

I'd like to keep Firpo but fear he's heading elsewhere. Dennis Cirkin has been mooted quite a bit, not as attacking but defensively stronger.

That leaves midfield. I really don't want to re-sign Kalvin Phillips. In the three years since he left, he's failed at three different clubs and been told he's fat. Even his final season at Leeds didn't reach the heady BIesla years. And Ampadu is younger, hungrier and club captain. As good as Rothwell has been this year, at 30 he won't have any re-sale value and you've got to ask why Bournemouth dont think he's good enough for them. I think we can aim better. I'd love to get Jobe Bellingham.

Don’t think we were ever interested in Armstrong, just Archer.

Agreed. I just wonder why we get so far into a negotiation and unsettle not only another club's player, but our own too.

By all accounts Archer was up for coming, hence he doesn't make the squad for their last game - but then Joseph says he'll go - he's happy to go back to Spain and now he's not got his move either.

In the mean time other clubs seem to just get on with it - how many new players have Blunts and Burnley brought in this month? I don't mind us being quiet in the sense that we're already good enough, but looking at Joseph's body language when he scored v Cardiff it feels like we have an unhappy striker now. Why didn't we just not bother chasing Archer?

There's too much 'noise' online to know what really happened. All we can say for sure is that we made a bid to loan Cameron Archer which was turned down. We don't know if any other bid was lodged, I suspect not as Farke and Kinnear's stated position was that they expected it to be a quiet transfer window, and that suggests to me that we were only interested in loans as per alst year when we only added Connor Roberts on loan. We then received a cash bid for Joseph which we turned down. What we also do know is that Farke had previously said no first teamers would be leaving unless there was silly money involved, so I'm inclined to believe that the bid by Real Betis for Joseph was unsolicited. But none of us can know for sure.

The other reason our windows are not overly active is because players we look at demand big wages to come here as they believe our 'big club status ' can afford it when really we can not which in-turn sees the deals fizzle out.

Rubbish.

They approached Rod Stewart yesterday and he wouldn't come to Elland Road either.

Oh, no - please, no! Really like him and still think he'll come good. Could come back to haunt us.

Is loan or permanent on the cards? Won't be so disappointed with the former if he's gonna get more game time.

I suspect it's a domino game.

Betis want some kid from Columbus Crew, but if that doesn't unfold they will take Joseph - he wants the move allegedly.

It also hinges on Archer arriving.

Afraid we're talking perm if it happens - we've knocked back £8M so far

yep 😏

20 years old and is only at the start of his real career. When he signed for us he believed he had made it (coaches said he lost that drive) and only over the past 6 months has he discovered that hard work is required to stay a professional. Good luck to the lad as he has the talent.

He cost £2m and we've sold him for a fraction of that. At least theres meant to be a substantial sell on fee.

Basically it has been since lat November that he has started playing like belonged in the men's game not just a youth star. Good luck to him.

Orta got some of them right....

updates to OP pending.

I gather he has been at Leeds before

I believe he was a ball boy.

It doesn't need an overhaul, it needs a few players who are better than what we already have. And it makes more sense to do it once we are promoted as we will be more attractive to players who don't want to play in the championship. I'd suggest a squad that could look like this.

GK - Meslier, New Signing (Trafford anybody)

RB - Bogle, New Signing who can also play LB (upgrade on Schmidt)

CB - Rodan

CB - Struijk, Wober

LB - New Signing (although I think Farke would like to keep Firpo)

CM - Ampadu, Gruev

CM - New SIgning (big upgrade on Rothwell), Tanaka, Crew/Gyabi

RW - James, Gnonto

S - New Signing, Joseph, Harry Gray

AM - New SIgning, Aaronson

LW - Solomon (he's really impressed me recently but equally happy to sign better), Ramazani

The key priorities being the Number 10, the CM upgrade of Rothwelll, the LB and competition for Meslier. And the long term integration of Crew and Gray (who is going to be a superstar).

Hm, perhaps not a complete overhaul, after all we've got the making of a pretty solid base. But obviously we'll need real quality additions in every department.

Beyond adding 3 -4 top players, we should take a look at the depth of the squad, at least in a couple of positions. For example, Just adding one striker and then relying on young Joseph (who thus far hasn't cut it at Championship level) and an even younger lad?

The thing that worries me big time, could/will be Farke's reluctance (hope I'm wrong) to look beyond those who (may) get us promotion.

A bit too many injuries? We've already got a few of those.

Last knock ins of the transfer window and we're looking at a loan for an injury prone player on massive wages .... what could possibly go wrong!?

It's exactly the same reason why other clubs don't want Bamford from us....

Please don't go to bed just yet....🙈😱🤫🤔

I suspect there may be an agent looking for attention here....

Lewie Barrie is going to Dull

I refer to my previous comment, I think we're probably done for this window.

Graeme Smith has rubbished Kelechi Iheanacho rumours.

I believe there WILL be at least one first team signing.

He played for Farke in Championship winning teams at Norwich - I guess that's the big connection

you're learning 🤗

It's also about the need to add an obligation to buy and at what level.... it may be that the longer this runs towards deadline day the better the deal

Just sayin'

not yet. time. patience....

He played 60 minutes from the start and by all reports looked comfortable but game fitness was lacking hence his sub after a hour.

For the record Gelthardt play around 25m for Hull and looked comfortable but rusty.

Oh but I'm not expecting anything (signings) either Smurf.

And yes, Solomon has come good over the last few games and Aaronson has played a big number of games/minutes and can clearly consider himself a fav player.

Reality is that the lack of a real nr. 10 in a lot of games, for me at least, hasn't gone away. The striker situation is another worry for me.

Piroe scores his fair share but beyond that? Joseph & the injured Bamford, the young ones ?

Now we've got the Struijck situation all over again (?), and the best we get to hear is "we're awake". Really? Wöber at CB, yes gladly but him and injuries seem to have a pretty good relationship too.

Last season ended with egg on their and ultimatily our faces.

Why not try to avoid the same happening again, even more so when the money is there or at least should be there.

Once again gambling and sitting on their hands, I just can't get my mind around that.

That kind of logic blows my top.

Admit that we're top of the league now and I'll accept that the league probably isn't as strong as it was last season, but in truth that's only more reason to do something.

Most good sides invest when there on top.

...when they are on top.

Yes Soopa, as I mentioned here just before with the Pascal situation they need to look at the defensive side too. LB (and other positions) will most certainly need to be adressed in time.

Was really, but I mean really glad to read that if and when we get to the promised land, even Smurf said we would need to look at reinforcing several positions.

Here's hoping that in itself persuades/convinces Farke.

I just pray that we get there.

Yes indeed, it’s not really an improvement on York though,. I would like to see our u21s playing Div 1 or 2. Gelhardt, Greenwood and Gyabi are the only ones playing championship, Perkins in Div 1 and Crew j. div 2. That’s the level our players should be aiming for.

Saw that, think that's most of our business done. Crew's gone to Doncaster. MIght see Debayo or Chambers or both go out on loan. After Farke and Kinnear's comments, I'm not expecting any incomings, although I still think we will add to the u21s.

post updates need approval so the OP is a little behind.

I think we'll see at least one first team move incoming yet.

He reminds me a lot of Wayne Rooney. Emanates strength and power. Good at build up play, passing and movement. U think the goals could have come, just as I hope they do for Joseph. I remember Joel Ann Greenwood scoring for fun in the u21s a few years back.

Re Greenwood: it was a new trend, at the time, when we paid real money for teenagers Greenwood, Gelhardt, Drameh and Gyabi, as they were supposed to be big part of Leeds’ future. That didn’t go well, did it? Still hopes for Gyabi, though, fingers crossed 🤞.

And Summerville whose sale probably covered the outlay for all of them which in itself made it a successful policy.

I've added the first U21 in....

Quality update Soopa and get him in the team now!

Every player has a price and if we get offered silly money, then yes we accept, but I just don't think we will get offered anything like that for Struijk, more like £12m. Given he's one of the best CBs in the championship and integral to our promotion campaign, that's not worth it for me.

Elvidi is a very good player but unfortunately his injury record has seen him now a shadow of what he was.

I would say that our current group of players is not strong enough to stay in the Premiership. Farke may want to not disturb the good atmosphere within the group, and thus let the available players finish the job - but we lack quality to avoid immediate relegation next season. Farke should know that - and he also needs to prove that he himself can compete outside the Championship.

That's spot on Danish. The current squad would struggle big time in the Premiership. The gap in quality between these 2 divisions grows by the year.

If/when we get there I just hope Farke doesn't keep too much faith with those who hopefully will get us there. Showing too much loyalty could/would backfire bigtime.

Financial constraints certainly haven't kept the likes of Forest & Villa out of the top half or above.

We'll need to spend on the very heavy side (for several years) to have a decent chance of becoming and then staying a Premiership side.

Ofcourse there are no guarantees.

I'm less worried about next season than making sure we have the right players to get us promoted this year. We will be adding a new keeper, new RB, new LB, updgrade on Rothwell, updgrade on or Solomon, a number 10 and a new stirker next year. We won't get those players this window as they don't want to play in the Championship and there's no guarantee we will definitely get promoted as an enticement. Only a Number 10 would be a priority for this campaign imho. And that would mostly likely be a loan signing. Where we could be clever is trying to sign some quality c 19 year old European talents who are too good for EPL and ECL under 21s but who other clubs might overlook as they prioritise on experience - players like Dario Eussugo at Sporting who might feel he could get a chance in the Leeds first team or Lennon Miller at Motherwell. The aim beign to find the next Raphinha or Summerville, rather than the next Bate or Poveda.

Would be silly to again sit on our hands when money is or at least should be available.

And we might as well get the right player around whom we can build our PL team. Like when Howard Wilkibson was trusted by the board and got the money to attract Strachan by the end of the 88/89 season.

Oh yes, with Strachan and Fairclough a big part of the foundation was put in place.

Daniel, I share your disappointment that Bogusz never really got a fair chance with us. His goals are plenty, half of them screamers, and he now plays regularly for Poland. Klich used to say that Bogusz would go on to be much better than himself. Obviously not coming back, and most on here would disagree with us 👍.

Actually think he suit Farke system as he can operate as a 10 or the inverted wingers position but most importantly he has wicked set pieces which we have not had for while at club.

I don't know anything about him either, except he's called Diego Luna.

Get him signed.

We should go back to Sheff Utd and make a crap offer for Hamer again.

McAtee got a hat trick yesterday. Some would say that's him in the shopfront where Burton Dummys run amok.

Luca Thomas the only other standout in a weaker U21 team this year. He's been scoring.

I think Keeper, LB, and No10 are the key areas - I don't see the point in chasing a 9 - we are top scorers in the league - Piroe is 3rd highest scorer in the Championship in about 15 games this season. I think a game controlling 10 would be better than another 9.

LB becoming a key issue if Schmidt doesn't nail it down soon. Firpo has packed his bags by the look of things.

On the subject of u 21s, I think only Chambers is at a level to potentially step up, possibly Charlie Crew but he needs to go out on loan, and obviously Harry Gray although he seems curiously absent from all the teams. Don't see anybody else knocking at the door at this point. And our U18s are getting a complete battering from all comers at the moment, so don't see many prospects there.

Out of the lot if them, I'd have Gyabi back. Playing regularly for a championship side.

Thing about Wöber is that he, at best is a back-up player atm.

We're halfway through the season and he has played 196 mins (+ some mins in the league cup).

During which, yes he had a good to very good game and another decent one.

The rest were just some mins here and there.

He's a good player at this level, but is he going to push out Struyck or Firpo?

And that's without taking into account his injury issues, his potential incoming transferfee and rather steep wages.

Can't see the club bringing in another keeper just to put pressure on Meslier, not with Darlow on the bench already. Either Meslier or Darlow with have to be on the move.

Agree about Solomon who has or at least should have the ability to perform in the n° 10 position. And yes both Bamford & Gelhardt should be allowed to leave, if both go we should certainly bring in another striker (the Villa lad?).